Tag Archives: historic preservation

Twelve planning lessons from failing cities

There are likely many more planning-related lessons from failing cities that could have been added, but these are ones that initially came to mind. Any additions, suggestions, or corrections are welcome. Do NOT chase the latest fad project without doing … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, adaptive reuse, business, Cars, cities, civics, civility, commerce, culture, downtown, economic development, environment, fitness, food systems, geography, government, health, Health care, Highway displacement, highways, historic preservation, history, Housing, human rights, humanity, inclusiveness, industry, infrastructure, land use, nature, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, politics, recreation, revitalization, Small business, spatial design, sustainability, third places, tourism, traffic, transportation, Travel, urban planning, visual pollution, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Viva historic preservation in the “True Las Vegas”

We recently spent part of a day wandering about downtown Las Vegas, New Mexico and came away very impressed by the preserved historical and cultural assets of this High Plains city. Unlike the overwhelming glitter and gaudiness found in Nevada, … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, archaeology, architecture, art, branding, business, cities, civics, civility, commerce, Cuisine, culture, downtown, economic development, economic gardening, entertainment, entrepreneurship, Food, fun, geography, government, historic preservation, history, Housing, infrastructure, land use, libraries, Maps, pictures, placemaking, planning, revitalization, shopping, Small business, spatial design, Statistics, third places, topography, tourism, Trade, Travel, urban design, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Echoes from a 20th Century ghost town – Glenrio, NM/TX

One typically thinks of ghost towns being worn relics from the 19th Century or of earlier time periods. However, in the case of Glenrio, New Mexico/Texas, the town was founded, prospered, and died during a narrow time span within the … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, archaeology, architecture, Cars, Cities, commerce, culture, fun, geography, Highway displacement, highways, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, pictures, place names, Railroads, Small business, spatial design, topography, tourism, Transportation, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A whirling good time to the Mid-America Windmill Museum

Nothing evokes the history of the American Midwest and Great Plains more than the classic windmill spinning effortlessly in the breeze. Sadly, these iconic structures are becoming less and less visible on the American landscape. But, there is a wonderful … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, Alternative energy, architecture, culture, energy, environment, geography, historic preservation, history, industry, infrastructure, land use, nature, peace, product design, technology, topography, weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A salute to Alabama’s landmark “Liberty Bell” village

Every now and then you learn a new tidbit about American history or a unique aspect of community planning lore. The subject of this blogpost would certainly qualify as both. During World War I, the United States was looking to … Continue reading

Posted in archaeology, architecture, cities, civics, culture, education, energy, geography, historic preservation, history, Housing, industry, infrastructure, land use, Maps, place names, placemaking, planning, schools, spatial design, topography, toponymy, tourism, Travel, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our quest for the “Metropolis” under East Bay waters

  Since moving to Michigan 27 years ago, I have been intrigued by the history and lore of the Great Lakes. This includes the lighthouses, sand dunes, ore docks, freighters, bridges, geology, and many other facets of this vast waterborne … Continue reading

Posted in archaeology, culture, fun, geography, Great Lakes, historic preservation, history, Maps, nature, North America, pictures, recreation, shipping, shipwrecks, technology, topography, tourism, transportation, Travel, water trails | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ten Planning Lessons from Bisbee, AZ

Current and former mining towns (as well as all declining post-industrial cities) can learn valuable lessons from Bisbee on how to survive and later begin to reverse the decline after its founding industry falters. Architectural gems from previous eras are … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art, Cities, civics, culture, economic development, Environment, geography, health, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, Nature, placemaking, planning, pollution, revitalization, sustainability, third places, topography, tourism, Transportation, Travel, Uncategorized, urban planning, visual pollution, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ten Planning Lessons from Bisbee, AZ

Stitching together a “Quilt Barn Trail”

On Michigan’s historic Old Mission Peninsula, the community has banded together to stitch a Quilt Barn Trail. One may ask, as I first did, what is a Quilt Barn Trail? Essentially, it is an effort to celebrate and recognize the … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, agriculture, architecture, art, branding, civics, Communications, culture, economic development, economic gardening, entertainment, environment, family, fun, geography, historic preservation, history, land use, Maps, placemaking, planning, revitalization, signs, tourism, trails, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Acts of DIS-placemaking

Just when you think society in general is starting to “get it” on the numerous benefits of placemaking, a couple of state legislators propose bills that could potentially wipe out one of the best tools for successful placemaking in Michigan … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, Advocacy, architecture, art, business, cities, civics, culture, downtown, economic development, economic gardening, economics, entrepreneurship, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, politics, revitalization, Statistics, third places, Uncategorized, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Once historic, always historic, unless…

…you are stupid enough to pass legislation that allows the wholesale or piecemeal destruction of historic resources. Those are the stakes in the Michigan Legislature (a bastion of “pure stupidity” lately), as they consider House Bill 5232 and Senate Bill … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, architecture, art, cities, civics, culture, government, historic preservation, history, land use, placemaking, planning, third places, tourism, Travel, Uncategorized, zoning | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments